Egyptian deadline: President rejects army ultimatum to resolve conflicts within 48 hours

Egypt’s president has rejected an army ultimatum to resolve the ongoing crisis within 48 hours. The military insisted that unless a solution is found, they will introduce a roadmap for the country’s future, stressing that national security was at risk.

"The president of the republic was not consulted about the
statement issued by the armed forces," the communiqué pointed
out. "The presidency sees that some of the statements in it
carry meanings that could cause confusion in the complex national
environment."

Official footage was released showing President Morsi meeting the
uniformed military general Abdel Fattah Sisi. It was unclear when
the video was shot.

The statement from Morsi's office further avowed the Egyptian
presidency would remain on “its previously plotted path to
promote comprehensive national reconciliation ... regardless of
any statements that deepen divisions between citizens."

A day earlier, the military declared the nation was in great
danger after millions of Egyptians took to the streets Sunday to
demand Morsi step down.

“If the demands of the people are not realized within the
defined period, it will be incumbent upon (the armed forces) to
announce a road map for the future,” said the statement by
General Adbel Fattah al-Sisi the Commander-In-Chief of the
Egyptian Armed Forces.

The statement continued that the armed forces have sensed the
seriousness of the situation currently facing the Egyptian people
and that they had already issued a warning over a week ago
calling for the politicians to achieve some kind of consensus to
bring stability to the country.

“The armed forces sensed early on the dangers of the current
situation and the demands the great people have at this time.
Therefore, it previously set a deadline of a week for all
political forces in the country to come to a consensus and get
out of this crisis. However, the week has passed without any sign
of an initiative. Wasting more time will only bring more division
and conflict, which we have warned about and continue to warn
about,” the statement read.

Bel Trew, RT’s correspondent in Cairo, said that this basically
means that if the situation does not improve the army will
intervene.

“It’s something people here have been discussing a lot, with
people on one side saying they want the military to step in as
the deepening crisis continues, on the other side people are
fearful of the military taking over,” said Trew, speaking on
the phone from Cairo.

The army was in charge of Egypt for a year after Hosni Murbarak
stepped down and during that period there were a number of human
rights violations, including deaths at the hands of the
military.

Trew explained that many people were unhappy with the military in
power and celebrated the fact that they had democratic elections
which brought in a civilian government. So the president has been
put between a hard place and a rock, she explained, as people are
calling on him to step down so either he resigns or in 48-hours
the military will step in.

Morsi will give a press conference from the presidential palace
later this evening to give his reaction to the military’s
announcement.

For its part the army insisted that it would not get directly
involved in politics or government and that it sought “the
participation of all factions and national parties including
young people”.

On Cairo’s Tahir Square, which has been the center of the
anti-government protests, hundreds of thousands celebrated the
army’s declaration.

“We want a new armed forces council to govern until new
elections,” Mohamed Ibrahim, an accountant told Reuters.

The main opposition movement, the National Salvation Front, which
has been demanding a unity government for months, applauded the
statement while anti Morsi protesters camped outside the
presidential palace cheered the army move.

Sunday’s rallies were the biggest in Egypt’s history, according
to AFP.